Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bucks County law enforcement authorities are warning of a scam where a fake warrant is issued.
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The fake warrant for contempt of court says it has been issued by Bucks County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Thomas Augustin and signed by Court of Common Pleas Judge Diane Gibbons. Augustin is the chief deputy for the sheriff’s office and Gibbons is an actual judge and former district attorney, who will be retiring from the bench this year.
However, the two or any other county officials weren’t involved in the fake warrant.
The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office on Friday warned residents of the email scam where the gifter sends a fake warrant from county authorities and threatens arrest if the receiver doesn’t pay a fee.
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The district attorney’s office released the following:
“An out-of-state resident recently received an email that includes an attachment of an arrest warrant, which says they are wanted for being in contempt of court. The warrant (attached) was made to appear official with the signature of a Bucks County Common Pleas Judge.
“In the email, the scammer provides a spoofed phone number to the recipient, which they are told they must call, so they can pay a fee and clear the warrant. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity.
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“The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office wants to remind the public that the Sheriff’s Office and the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas would never ask for payment in this fashion or email a warrant.”
“Do not give them any money or personal information,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Authorities also provided some additional tips:
- People should never send money or provide access to your bank or credit card in response to threatening emails (or phone calls) you may receive claiming that you owe a debt.
- Whenever getting this type of notice, people should do an online search of the agency themselves and contact the correct agency to verify that they do not owe any money.
- People should never give any personal information, such as social security number, credit card, or bank account information to any individual, website, or company without first verifying their identity.
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One major flaw for the fake warrant is that it features the seal of Montgomery County, not Bucks County in the background.
Manuel Gamiz, the communications director for the district attorney’s office, told LevittownNow.com the Bucks County Detectives are aware of the scam.
The identity of county government offices has been hijacked in the past by scammers looking to make a quick buck.
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Gamiz said county detectives advise residents to not fall for the scam and contact their local police department if they get an email claiming to be a warrant from the sheriff’s office.
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